98. Memorandum From the Acting Director of the Office of Controls, Department of State (Lyon) to the Secretary of State’s Special Assistant for Research and Intelligence (McCormack)0
Reference is made to the Executive Order which President Truman signed on September 20, 1945, terminating the Office of Strategic Services and disposing of its functions.
The Department continues to receive from the Strategic Services Unit requests for State Department designations at the various diplomatic missions. Many of the requests are for replacements; others are for new assignments. Too, there is some indication that personnel in one branch of the former OSS organization, not transferred to the State [Page 246] Department, are transferring or attempting to transfer to branches of the organization now connected with the Department of State.
In view of the forementioned Executive Order and President Truman’s letter of September 20, 1945 to Secretary Byrnes on the subject of OSS, FC has been hesitant to approve requested designations by SSU until such time as the future activities of the Unit have been determined.
I believe you will agree that during the interim period of the organization increases in personnel as well as replacements and transfers which are not absolutely necessary, should be kept at a minimum. To send SSU employees to our European missions at this time—when the work may be terminated within a matter of weeks—appears to be an unnecessary expenditure of government funds as well as an imposition on the time and effort of our already over-occupied offices.
In order that I may discuss the matter with the proper SSU officials, I would appreciate your advising me whether the requests for State Department designations should be held pending a decision regarding the future activities of the SSU—particularly the organization’s relationship with this Department.